City Via Crucis at the Greek Theatre
Good Friday in the cavea of the Greek Theatre of Syracuse, featuring students from the Academy of Ancient Drama
About Via Crucis at the Greek Theatre
A Via Crucis on the oldest Greek stage
The City Via Crucis at the Greek Theatre is one of the most intense spiritual events of Holy Week in Syracuse, the capital of the province of the same name in Sicily. Every Good Friday, at dusk, the monumental cavea of the Greek Theatre, situated within the Neapolis Archaeological Park, welcomes the faithful for the rite of the Via Crucis: a prayerful journey that retraces the Passion of Christ in a place where ancient drama has been performed for over two thousand years.
Fifteen stations performed by Inda students
What makes this Via Crucis unique is the encounter between liturgy and stagecraft. The fifteen stations are performed by students from the Inda Foundation's Academy of Ancient Drama, the same young actors who bring the famous classical plays to life at the Greek Theatre. The performances are directed by actresses Elena Polic Greco and Simonetta Cartia. The figures of the Passion come to life among the ancient stone tiers, accompanied by meditations and prayers, in an atmosphere made even more evocative by the lighting and the hushed silence of the cavea.
A prayer led by the Archbishop
The rite is promoted by the Parishes of the Vicariate of Syracuse in collaboration with the management of the Archaeological and Landscape Park of Syracuse, Eloro, Villa del Tellaro, and Akrai, and the Inda Foundation. The prayer is led by the Archbishop of Syracuse, Monsignor Francesco Lomanto. Each participant receives a booklet containing the meditations and prayers that accompany the stations, often enriched with images of the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Lacrime, a symbol of the city.
Faith, art, and Syracusan identity
For the community of Syracuse, the City Via Crucis is much more than a religious celebration: it is a collective moment that unites the parishes, the cultural institution of Inda, and the city's archaeological heritage into a single experience. Praying within the Greek Theatre, where Greek tragedy has staged human suffering and destiny for centuries, gives the re-enactment of the Passion a depth that few other places can offer. The event, which is free to attend, attracts faithful, curious onlookers, and visitors every year, becoming one of the most cherished images of Holy Week in the territory of the Municipality of Syracuse.
Via Crucis at the Greek Theatre — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the City Via Crucis at the Greek Theatre was held on Friday, March 27, 2026, Good Friday, under the theme "The painful journey of Jesus on the way to Calvary." The public was admitted from 5:30 PM, with the rite beginning at 6:00 PM in the cavea of the Greek Theatre, inside the Neapolis Archaeological Park.
The fifteen stations were performed by students of the Inda Foundation's Academy of Ancient Drama, directed by Elena Polic Greco and Simonetta Cartia. The prayer was led by the Archbishop of Syracuse, Monsignor Francesco Lomanto. Each participant received a booklet with meditations written by Marco Fatuzzo and prayers curated by Father Carlo Fatuzzo. The initiative, free of charge, was promoted by the Parishes of the Vicariate of Syracuse with the management of the Archaeological Park and the Inda Foundation.
Programme Via Crucis at the Greek Theatre 2026
Friday, March 27, 2026 (Good Friday)
- 5:30 PM - Opening of the Greek Theatre to the public
- 6:00 PM - Start of the City Via Crucis with the fifteen stations
Theme of the edition: "The painful journey of Jesus on the way to Calvary." Performers: students of the Inda Foundation's Academy of Ancient Drama. Directors: Elena Polic Greco and Simonetta Cartia. Prayer leader: Archbishop Monsignor Francesco Lomanto. Meditations by Marco Fatuzzo, prayers by Father Carlo Fatuzzo.
Highlights Via Crucis at the Greek Theatre 2026
- The fifteen stations performed by students of the Inda Academy of Ancient Drama
- Prayer led by Archbishop Monsignor Francesco Lomanto
- Cavea of the Greek Theatre in the Neapolis Archaeological Park
- Booklet with meditations by Marco Fatuzzo
- Free admission
Prices Via Crucis at the Greek Theatre 2026
Practical information — Via Crucis at the Greek Theatre
Location
Greek Theatre of Syracuse, inside the Neapolis Archaeological Park, Via Paradiso 14, 96100 Syracuse (SR).
When
Every Good Friday, in the evening. The 2026 edition took place on March 27, with doors opening to the public at 5:30 PM and the Via Crucis beginning at 6:00 PM.
Admission
Free admission. A booklet with meditations and prayers is distributed to participants.
How to get there
By car: the entrance to the Neapolis Archaeological Park is located along Viale Paradiso, accessible from the SS114 and the Syracuse bypass. By train: from the Syracuse train station, the site can be reached by city bus or on foot. It is recommended to arrive early for security checks at the entrance and to find a seat in the cavea.
Contacts
Press Office of the Archdiocese of Syracuse, tel. +39 0931 66571.
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Where does it take place — Via Crucis at the Greek Theatre
Teatro Greco di Siracusa - Parco Archeologico della Neapolis
Via Paradiso 14, 96100 Siracusa